Welcome to Naval Support Facility Dahlgren

Welcome to Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren, Va. The history of this unique naval installation dates to 1918 when the “Lower Station” of the Naval Powder Factory at Indian Head, Md., was established in Virginia’s Northern Neck on 4,000 acres bounded by the Potomac River and Machodoc Creek in King George County. What began as a gun test facility has since evolved and expanded to include numerous scientific and response-force missions serving all branches of the United States armed forces.

Installation Information

Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va., was initially established in 1918 on 4,000 acres bounded by the Potomac River and Machodoc Creek in King George County as a remote extension of Maryland’s Indian Head Proving Ground to be used for testing naval guns. The Dahlgren site was named the Lower Station, Dahlgren Naval Proving Ground in honor of Rear Admiral John Adolphus Dahlgren. The location on the Potomac River was specifically chosen for the development of a long ballistic range on the Potomac River, required for the testing of modern, high-powered munitions.

What began as a gun test facility has since evolved and expanded to include numerous scientific and response-force missions serving all branches of the United States armed forces. In addition to its military value, today Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren makes a significant economic contribution to the local community and the installation’s Navy commands, as a whole, serve as the largest employer in King George County.